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snousleI've started reading Charles Murray's Coming Apart, and this has led me to want to go back and read The Bell Curve for myself. At the time, I took it for granted that its critics were correct and the book was trash. But in this video clip, Murray uncategorically affirms what he wrote and doesn't feel inclined to retract anything.
I think that he could well be spot on in his analysis. Still, I think it shows bad judgment to publish ideas in a form that makes them overwhelmingly likely to be misinterpreted and abused. Even when that writing makes appropriate caveats and is even-handed with alternative perspectives. There are a few cases where truthfulness just isn't as important as politics. What I would ask is, why would The Bell Curve be considered useful? Even given the assumption that it's analytically sound, could its publication somehow lead to better decision making? A better society? If the answer is not a clear "yes" then maybe some books are better left unwritten.
Nevertheless, since it WAS written, I guess I might as well read it.
I think that he could well be spot on in his analysis. Still, I think it shows bad judgment to publish ideas in a form that makes them overwhelmingly likely to be misinterpreted and abused. Even when that writing makes appropriate caveats and is even-handed with alternative perspectives. There are a few cases where truthfulness just isn't as important as politics. What I would ask is, why would The Bell Curve be considered useful? Even given the assumption that it's analytically sound, could its publication somehow lead to better decision making? A better society? If the answer is not a clear "yes" then maybe some books are better left unwritten.
Nevertheless, since it WAS written, I guess I might as well read it.
